A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life

“Will stand for many years as the standard English translation of this key Tibetan Buddhist text.“—Publishers Weekly

“The Wallaces have produced a concise, literal, and elegant translation. The extant Sanskrit edition frequently differs from the one used in Tibet a millennium ago, and the Wallaces have noted these differences in copious footnotes. These features make their translation both highly readable and an excellent source for scholars of the original languages.“—Tricycle

Shantideva was an eighth-century scholar from the monastic university Nalanda, a renowned center of learning in ancient India. Legend has it that Shantideva was deeply inspired by the celestial bodhisattva Manjushri, from whom he secretly received teachings and profound insights. To his fellow monks, however, Shantideva appeared unremarkable, seemingly dedicating his time to little more than eating and sleeping.

In an effort to humiliate him, the monks pressured Shantideva into publicly reciting from the scriptures. To the astonishment of everyone present, Shantideva then presented the original and moving verses of the Bodhicharyavatara. Upon reaching verse thirty-four of the ninth chapter, he began to ascend into the sky, eventually disappearing from view. Following this event, Shantideva became a distinguished teacher.

B. Alan Wallace has authored, translated, edited, and contributed to over forty books covering Tibetan Buddhism, science, and culture. Having spent fourteen years as a Buddhist monk, he holds a BA in physics and the philosophy of science and a PhD in religious studies. He previously taught in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and subsequently founded the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies to investigate the intersection of scientific approaches and contemplative methods.

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